Leadership

Leadership - Defending Your Team Against Toxic Clients

In consulting, tough projects are part of the job, but sometimes the hardest challenge comes from the client. I want to share a story about a former manager who faced a particularly difficult situation, where her leadership and professionalism were put to the test. The lessons from this experience are invaluable for anyone leading a team under pressure.

Leadership - The Power of Feedback

In today's dynamic professional landscape, waiting for feedback can leave you steering without direction. Proactively seeking feedback isn't just a good practice-it's a vital tool for continuous improvement and success. This post delves into why taking the initiative on feedback matters and how it can transform your approach to leadership and teamwork.

Leadership - The Art of Speaking Last

Have you ever noticed how the dynamics of a meeting shift when the most senior person speaks first? Conversations narrow, diverse ideas fade, and the collective potential of the team diminishes. In leadership, sometimes the most impactful action is not speaking at all-at least not until everyone else has. Inspired by Nelson Mandela's wisdom and Simon Sinek's insights, let's explore how the simple act of speaking last can transform your team's collaboration and unlock hidden solutions.

Leadership - Validate Success Like You Validate Failure

We're quick to dive into root cause analysis when things go wrong, but do we apply the same scrutiny when things go right? It's easy to celebrate success and move on, but true growth comes from validating what made that success possible. Are we taking the time to understand why things went well so we can repeat them?

Leadership - Be the Idiot

As a leader, you're often expected to have all the answers, but what if asking the right questions is just as important? In a world where technology and industries constantly evolve, no one can truly be an expert in everything. Drawing from the advice of a popular video titled "Be the Idiot," this post dives into why asking questions-even ones that may seem "dumb"-can make you a stronger leader. Spoiler alert-Much to learn, we all still have. Let's explore how curiosity and humility play pivotal roles in effective leadership and team collaboration.

Leadership - Tackle the Monkey First

As development leaders, we often face the pressure to deliver quick wins that impress stakeholders. But focusing solely on the flashy features can lead to ignoring critical, riskier tasks that ensure long-term success. In this post, we'll explore how to strike a balance between showing progress and tackling the real challenges-while guiding stakeholders through tough decisions, even when it's not easy.